Today's India is truly incredible: Malayalee Americans

They left India years ago seeking greener pastures in the West. But, looking at the growth logged by their country of origin and development all around, members of the Malayalee diaspora in the US think today's India is truly incredible.

"All the preparations for Commonwealth Games and development I see all around -- Delhi
Metro, the airport, the malls, residential complexes -- it is all very impressive," said Paul Mathai, who represents the Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas (FOMAA).

"Even in Mumbai, where I worked 30 years ago, the shanties have moved out of the airport premises. It is unbelievable that the government is building homes
for slum dwellers," Mathai, here for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, told IANS.

The overseas Malayalees are impressed by the high priority being given to the people of Indian origin duing the two tenures of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government -- which set up the first exclusive ministry on overseas Indian affairs.

"Previously, nobody was concerned about non-resident Indians or people of Indian origin. Now after the formation of new ministry, there is considerable change," said Sasidharan Nair, founder president of the federation.

"Today's India is truly incredible."

Joseph Ouso, another prominent member of the association and a senior executive with the Boeing Company, said many Indians left for the US to seek employment. But today the same set of people are impressed by India's growth and opportunities.

"Many Indians in the US lost their jobs because of the slowdown. Many lost their homes. And many were forced to leave. But in India still there is growth and still there are opportunities," Ouso said.

Speaking about the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, that kicked off Thursday, the members of the association said as many as 100 delegates are participating. "This is the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas our members are attending," said Ouso.

Founded in 2008, the federation is an umbrella organisation of 42 Malayalee associations in the US, Mexico and Canada.

"We are second largest association of Indians in the Americas after Gujaratis. We have 500,000 members," said Nair. The US is home to nearly three million Indian Americans, considered the best educated and the most affluent among all ethnic groups.

Among the Malayalees, he said, noteworthy contribution was being made by nurses in the US who were much sought after in hospitals. "Nurses are the best visible face of Malayalees in the US," said Ouso, who is treasurer of the federation.